Phytochemical Investigation of an Ostrya carpinifolia L. Extract: an Effective Anti-Pollution Cosmetic Active Ingredient.

Ostrya carpinifolia L., a member of the Betulaceae family, is a tree endemic to the Mediterranean basin that is well known for the hardness of its wood. In this study, we assess the anti-pollution activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of O. carpinifolia twigs using several judiciously selected in vitro cosmetic bioassays. The extract's capacity to counteract excessive production of reactive oxygen species following a cutaneous exposure to atmospheric pollution was evaluated using a combination of several antioxidant assays: DPPH, FRAP and ß-carotene bleaching assays. These antioxidant assays were complemented by anti-elastase, anti-collagenase, anti-hyaluronidase and anti-lipoxygenase assays to evaluate the capacity of the extract to preserve the integrity of the skin. The hydroalcoholic extract of O. carpinifolia demonstrates intriguing biological antioxidant activities, with approximately 50% inhibition observed in DPPH and ß-carotene assays. Furthermore, its anti-lipoxygenase, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-collagenase activities are noteworthy, exceeding 50% inhibition. The two major compounds of O. carpinifolia ethanolic extract were isolated and identified as myricitrin (1) and quercitrin (2). Myricitrin and quercitrin exhibit antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase properties; we explored the correlation of these properties with the activity of the crude hydroalcoholic extract. Notably, these compounds have not been previously described in the Ostrya genus.

Genomic divergence between two sister Ostrya species through linked selection and recombination.

Studying the evolution of genomic divergence between lineages is a topical issue in evolutionary biology. However, the evolutionary forces that shape the heterogeneous divergence of the genomic landscape are still poorly understood. Here, two wind-pollinated sister-species (Ostrya japonica and O. chinensis) are used to explore what these potential forces might be. A total of 40 individuals from 16 populations across their main distribution areas in China were sampled for genome-wide resequencing. Population demography analyses revealed that these two sister-species diverged at 3.06-4.43 Mya. Both population contraction and increased gene flow were detected during glacial periods, suggesting secondary contact at those times. All three parameters (D XY, π, and ρ) decreased in those regions showing high levels of differentiation (F ST). These findings indicate that linked selection and recombination played a key role in the genomic heterogeneous differentiation between the two Ostrya species. Genotype-environment association analyses showed that precipitation was the most important ecological factor for speciation. Such environmentally related genes and positive selection genes may have contributed to local adaptation and the maintenance of species boundaries.

A combined approach utilizing UAV 3D imaging methods, in-situ measurements, and laboratory experiments to assess water evaporation and trace element uptake by tree species growing in a red gypsum landfill.

The extractive industry is increasingly faced with problems of managing contaminated sites. The red gypsum landfill at the Ochsenfeld site is representative of the typology byproduct storage of the Ti-extraction activity. The management of the elemental content and the water body are the issues at this site. The aim of this study was to evaluate the canopy conductance (gcmax) of various tree species and the content of elements in the leaves, utilizing the opportunity of a demonstration plantation setup in 2014 with sixteen tree species, combined with a growth chamber experiment. We combined the gas exchange measurements with the data from two multispectral cameras with RGB and NIR bands embarked on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In the field, Ostrya carpinifolia, Maclura pomifera, and Rhus copallina had the highest gcmax of all planted tree species, and the high transpiration rate in O. carpinifolia was confirmed in a pot-based controlled experiment. Except R. copallina, the species with a high Mn content (O. carpinifolia, Betula pendula, and Salix aquatica grandis) had high stomatal conductance. O. carpinifolia could therefore be a species to exploit in the management of landfill leachates, especially in the context of climate change since this species is well adapted to dry environments.

Interspecific delimitation and relationships among four Ostrya species based on plastomes.

BACKGROUND: The genus Ostrya (Betulaceae) contains eight species and four of them are distributed in China. However, studies based on limited informative sites of several chloroplast markers failed to resolve interspecific delimitation and relationships among the four Chinese species. In this study, we aimed to use the whole chloroplast genomes to address these two issues. RESULTS: We assembled and annotated 33 complete chloroplast genomes (plastomes) of the four Chinese species, representing 17 populations across most of their geographical distributions. Each species contained samples of several individuals that cover most of geographic distributions of the species. All plastomes are highly conserved in genome structure and gene order, with a total length of 158-159 kb and 122 genes. Phylogenetic analyses of whole plastomes, non-coding regions and protein-coding genes produced almost the same topological relationships. In contrast to the well-delimitated species boundary inferred from the nuclear ITS sequence variations, three of the four species are non-monophyletic in the plastome trees, which is consistent with previous studies based on a few chloroplast markers. CONCLUSIONS: The high incongruence between the ITS and plastome trees may suggest the widespread occurrences of hybrid introgression and incomplete lineage sorting during the divergence of these species. In addition, the plastomes with more informative sites compared with a few chloroplast markers still failed to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the four species, and further studies involving population genomic data may be needed to better understand their evolutionary histories.

Simultaneous adaptation and maladaptation of tree populations to local rhizosphere microbial communities at different taxonomic scales.

Plant populations are often adapted to their local conditions, but the specific selective forces creating this adaptation are often unclear. All plants interact with diverse microbial communities, but we know little about how these microbial communities as a whole shape the evolutionary trajectory of plant populations. We tested whether tree populations were adapted or maladapted to their local rhizosphere microbial communities by growing seedlings sourced from multiple locations with soil microbial communities from all locations in a fully reciprocal design, using seedling growth as a proxy for fitness. In addition, we compared the microbial composition of the experimental inocula with that of the communities we detected associating with naturally occurring trees at the seedling source populations. We found that seedlings grew similarly when inoculated with local vs foreign microbial communities, but this neutral response derived from conflicting patterns - plant populations appeared to be adapted to the presence or absence of whole taxonomic groups in their local microbial community, but were simultaneously maladapted to the particular microbial populations present in their local site. As rapid climate change and other factors push tree populations into new areas, the successful establishment of seedlings may depend critically on the balance between the novelty and familiarity of the microbial communities they encounter.

A review of the Japanese species of the family Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera).

This paper provides taxonomic and biological data on one new and one newly recorded species of Coptotriche Walsingham and one new and one newly recorded species of Tischeria Zeller from Japan. Coptotriche symplocosella Kobayashi & Hirowatari, sp. n. (host Symplocos lucida, Symplocaceae), and Tischeria kumatai Sato, Kobayashi & Hirowatari, sp. n. (host Tilia japonica, Malvaceae) are described. The pupal morphology of Coptotriche symplocosella is illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. Coptotriche minuta Diskus & Stonis, 2014 and Tischeria relictana Ermolaev, 1986 are newly recorded from Japan. The female, hostplants (Carpinus, Corylus, and Ostrya species), and immature stages of Coptotriche minuta and the adult features, female, and hostplants (Betula species) of Tischeria relictana are described with photographs and drawings for the first time. Mine types and characters of Japanese Tischeriidae are reviewed with photographs.

Species delimitation of Chinese hop-hornbeams based on molecular and morphological evidence.

Species delimitation through which infers species boundaries is emerging as a major work in modern systematics. Hop-hornbeam species in Ostrya (Betulaceae) are well known for their hard and heavy woods. Five species were described in China and their interspecific delimitations remain unclear. In this study, we firstly explored their distributions in all recorded field sites distributed in China. We then selected 110 samples from 22 natural populations of five species from this genus and one type specimen of O. yunnanensis, for molecular barcoding analyses. We sequenced four chloroplast (cp) DNA fragments (trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF, rps16, and trnG) and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for all samples. Sequence variations of Ostrya from four cpDNA fragments identified three groups that showed no correspondence to any morphological delimitation because of the incomplete lineage sorting and/or possible interspecific introgression in the history. However, phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequence variations discerned four species, O. japonica, O. rehderiana, O. trichocarpa, and O. multinervis while O. yunnanensis nested within O. multinervis. Morphological clustering also discerned four species and showed the complete consistency with molecular evidence. Moreover, our phylogenetic analyses-based ITS sequence variations suggested that O. trichocarpa comprised an isolated lineage different from the other Eurasian ones. Based on these results, hop-hornbeams in China should be treated as four separate species. Our results further highlight the importance of ITS sequence variations in delimitating and discerning the closely related species in plants.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal richness declines towards the host species' range edge.

Plant range boundaries are generally considered to reflect abiotic conditions; however, a rise in negative or decline in positive species interactions at range margins may contribute to these stable boundaries. While evidence suggests that pollinator mutualisms may decline near range boundaries, little is known about other important plant mutualisms, including microbial root symbionts. Here, we used molecular methods to characterize root-associated fungal communities in populations of two related temperate tree species from across the species' range in the eastern United States. We found that ectomycorrhizal fungal richness on plant roots declined with distance from the centre of the host species range. These patterns were not evident in nonmycorrhizal fungal communities on roots nor in fungal communities in bulk soil. Climatic and soil chemical variables could not explain these biogeographic patterns, although these abiotic gradients affected other components of the bulk soil and rhizosphere fungal community. Depauperate ectomycorrhizal fungal communities may represent an underappreciated challenge to marginal tree populations, especially as rapid climate change pushes these populations outside their current climate niche.

The complete chloroplast genome of Ostrya rehderiana.

The complete chloroplast sequence of Ostrya rehderiana is 159 347 bp in length, containing 85 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes, and 31 transfer RNA genes. The circular genome exhibits a typical chloroplast genome structure comprising a large single copy region of 88 552 bp, a small single copy region of 18 941 bp and a pair of inverted repeats of 25 927 bp. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.5%. Phylogenetic analysis of O. rehderiana sequence together with 12 complete chloroplast genomes revealed a basal placement of O. rehderiana within the Fagales species.

Effects of atmospheric pollutants (CO, O3, SO2) on the allergenicity of Betula pendula, Ostrya carpinifolia, and Carpinus betulus pollen.

Pollen of Betula pendula, Ostrya carpinifolia, and Carpinus betulus was exposed in vitro to relatively low levels of the air pollutants, namely carbon monoxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. The allergenicity of the exposed pollen was compared with that of non-exposed pollen samples to assess if air pollution exposition affects the allergenicity potential of pollen. The immunodetection assays indicated higher IgE recognition by all sera of allergic patients to the pollen protein extracts in all exposed samples in comparison to the non-exposed samples. These results show that the pollen exposition to low pollutants' levels induces increased allergic reaction to sensitized individuals.